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Fundamentals of Photography

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Course Overview

Photographs are more than just snapshots. When taken the right way, they become dramatic personal statements with the power to last forever. They can transport you to distant landscapes, capture fleeting emotions, recall cherished memories, reveal the beauty of daily life, and even change the world.

With recent developments in technology, we now take and share photographs almost instantaneously through online photo albums and social media-making this unique form of personal expression more central to our lives than ever before.

But when many of us take photographs, we simply point our cameras and click without being aware of what we're doing, what we're seeing, or how we can do it better. In reality, taking great photographs requires you to see as a professional photographer does; to train your eyes using the same fundamental techniques and principles the experts use to create unforgettable images from the grandest (and simplest) of subjects.

With Fundamentals of Photography, you'll learn everything you need to know about the art and craft of great photography straight from a professional photographer with more than 30 years of experience. Designed for people at all levels, these 24 lectures are an engaging guide to how photographs work and how to make them work better for you. National Geographic contributing photographer Joel Sartore has crafted a course that will hone your photographer's eye so you can capture the greatest moments in nearly every situation and setting imaginable, from a field of flowers to a friend's birthday party to a grand mountain range. Taking you both inside the photographer's studio and out into the field, this course is a chance to learn, in a way anyone can grasp, the basic insights and hidden secrets of photography.

Learn How to See Just as a Professional Does

The first and most important lessons you learn in Fundamentals of Photography involve seeing and thinking just like the professionals who make taking perfect shots seem like second nature.

Mr. Sartore teaches you the three features any photographer needs to have in place before snapping a shot:

Great lighting

Solid visual composition

An interesting perspective on your subject

By paying attention to these aspects (with help from well over 1,000 dramatic photos from Mr. Sartore's award-winning portfolio), you'll be better able to take the kinds of photographs that surpass their original situation and actually mean something to you and others.

Peek inside the Photographer's Toolkit

In the first half of Fundamentals of Photography, you'll become better acquainted with the basic features of cameras and how each plays a role in creating great photographs. Using nontechnical language, Mr. Sartore explains essential tools such as shutter speed, aperture, and lenses.

In the second half of the course, you'll learn to apply the basics of photography to the kinds of photos that people commonly take-and how to take them better than ever.

With Mr. Sartore as your guide, you'll be learning from a master of the craft; a professional photographer whose work has appeared in prestigious publications. So start making your own photos more lasting and meaningful with Fundamentals of Photography.

Hide Full Description

24 lectures

| Average 31 minutes each

1

Making Great Pictures

What makes a photograph iconic? What three things must every picture have to stand out from any old snapshot? These two questions form the core of Mr. Sartore’s introduction to the course. You’ll also discover that a great picture doesn’t rely on equipment—but on being able to see and think critically about your surroundings. x

2

Camera Equipment—What You Need

To take a picture, you need to have good equipment. Here, get a no-nonsense guide to finding photography equipment—including cameras, tripods, and camera bags—that fits your needs. Also, take an in-depth look at a camera’s controls and settings for everything from aperture to shutter speed to ISO (your film’s sensitivity to light). x

3

Lenses and Focal Length

According to Mr. Sartore, lenses are the most critical tools of photography. In this lecture, he takes you into the field and shows you different camera lenses in action. Among them: 70–200 mm (good for blurring out distracting backgrounds), rectilinear lenses (great for photographing things with minimal distortion), and wide-angle lenses (perfect for both landscapes and for shooting subjects in tight quarters). x

4

Shutter Speeds

Your camera’s shutter speed controls how much light enters the lens in a shot. Learn how to become a master at working with this critical tool of photography. You’ll discover when to use fast or slow shutter speeds, study each speed’s unique effects, and uncover different techniques—such as panning and ghosting—that can add great artistic touches. x

5

Aperture and Depth of Field

What do numbers such as f/1.4, f/2.8, or f/16 mean? Finally make sense of your camera’s aperture settings, which can help create eye-popping visual effects and solve specific compositional problems. Then examine some of Mr. Sartore’s acclaimed work to see the dramatic relationship between aperture and a photograph’s depth of field. x

6

Light I—Found or Ambient Light

In this first lecture on one of the two building blocks of photography, learn how to tap into the power of ambient light, which isn’t created in a studio but is found around you. Look at how you should adjust your camera to make the most of found light, and learn the best kind of ambient light to shoot in and why. Explore front lighting, hatchet lighting, and even zebra lighting. x

7

Light II—Color and Intensity

Continue exploring light and photography with a look at color—both the “color” of different types of light and colors as they appear in your photographs. Then, focus on the differences between hard light and soft light, and how to adjust your camera accordingly to maximize the potential of these key photographic elements. x

How do you truly capture the beauty of the three-dimensional world around you? The answer lies within composition—photography’s second building block. In the first of three lectures on the subject, analyze a series of pictures to get a basic understanding of how framing works. x

10

Composition II—Background and Perspective

Great composition also involves paying attention to background and perspective. Here, Mr. Sartore offers you numerous tips and strategies for finding the perfect background, examining the benefits and drawbacks of particular perspectives, and avoiding compositional mistakes that can ruin the power of even the most perfectly lit photograph. x

11

Composition III—Framing and Layering

Frames. Leading lines. The eyes of your subject. Layers. Learn how paying attention to—and using—these and other compositional tools can isolate the true subject of your photo and add a strong sense of dimension. x

12

Let’s Go to Work—Landscapes

Now start applying the information you’ve learned. Your first assignment: rural and urban landscapes. Some tips you’ll discover include surveying the ground ahead of the prime light you want to shoot in, using wide-angle lenses and a little height to suggest grandeur, and focusing on a subject you can get repeated chances at capturing. x

13

Let’s Go to Work—Wildlife

Explore techniques for photographing wildlife, whether it’s birds in your backyard or lions on a safari. Learn how to set up a blind to conceal you from your subject, where to find the best places to photograph flora and fauna, common mistakes that wildlife photographers should avoid, and more. x

14

Let’s Go to Work—People and Relationships

Using touching photographs of family and friends, Mr. Sartore demonstrates how to use your camera to best capture joy, sadness, anger, and other emotions—without interfering with your subject’s behavior. x

15

Let’s Go to Work—From Mundane to Extraordinary

A key skill for any photographer is the ability to capture the special aspects of even the most mundane subjects. Focus on developing and strengthening this talent alongside Mr. Sartore, who teaches you how to make great frames in seemingly “boring” places from hotel rooms to hog farms. x

16

Let’s Go to Work—Special Occasions

Special occasions come loaded with moments that beg to be captured with a camera. Taking the knowledge you’ve gained from previous lectures, investigate ways to anticipate and better prepare for candidly photographing the range of emotions, moods, and scenes that can be found at any wedding, party, or holiday event you attend. x

17

Let’s Go to Work—Family Vacations

Transform the way you think about and take photographs during vacations. How can you avoid taking the same dull pictures like other tourists? What are some good ways to capture the story behind a famous landmark? Who can you ask for help about the best places for photo opportunities in your destination? x

18

Advanced Topics—Research and Preparation

Despite what you may think, researching is an important part of any well-planned photo shoot. In the first of several lectures on advanced topics in photography, learn from Mr. Sartore’s own diverse shoots around the world about ways to research and prepare for photographing in more complicated situations. x

19

Advanced Topics—Macro Photography

Examine how to capture the remarkable (and often overlooked) beauty in miniature subjects such as insects, flowers, eyes—even a pile of money. Learn the best equipment to use, lighting techniques to capture specific features of your miniature subjects, and common mistakes to avoid (such as not getting enough depth of field). x

20

Advanced Topics—Low Light

Low light used to be the bane of Mr. Sartore’s profession. Now, it’s all he wants to photograph in. Learn how to take advantage of low-light situations by picking the right gear (including lenses that give you wide apertures) and techniques such as using objects to block bright spots in your frame. x

21

Advanced Topics—Problem Solving

In order to be a better photographer, you need to be a visual problem solver. Mr. Sartore, using his own career experiences, takes you through varying levels of difficult situations—such as shooting in Antarctica, on a snowy road, or throughout a massive city—to illustrate the importance of mastering this skill. x

22

After the Snap—Workflow and Organization

Regardless of whether you’re shooting with film or on a digital camera, you need an effective system to organize your pictures. Here, get practical tips on everything from storing film negatives and naming your digital pictures to touching up your shots and archiving all of your work. x

23

Editing—Choosing the Right Image

Hone your editing skills by combing through groups of images to select the ones that stand out. It takes time and practice—but once you can narrow your photographs down to the best of the best, you can sharpen your critical eye and improve the way you shoot in the future. x

24

Telling a Story with Pictures—The Photo Essay

Close out the course with a fascinating look at telling stories with your photographs. Using his photo essays on Alaska’s North Slope; people at Leech Lake, Minnesota; and dwindling biodiversity, Mr. Sartore leaves you with a greater appreciation of how photographers are not just observers but actual storytellers. x

Lecture Titles

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What's Included

What Does Each Format Include?

Video Download Includes:

Download 24 video lectures to your computer or mobile app

Downloadable PDF of the course guidebook

FREE video streaming of the course from our website and mobile apps

DVD Includes:

24 lectures on 4 DVDs

167-page printed course guidebook

Downloadable PDF of the course guidebook

FREE video streaming of the course from our website and mobile apps

What Does The Course Guidebook Include?

Course Guidebook Details:

167-page course synopsis

Photographs

Suggested readings

Photo assignments

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iPhone + iPad

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Kindle Fire Tablet + Firephone

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Your professor

About Your Professor

Joel Sartore

National Geographic Photographer

Joel Sartore is a professional photographer and a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine. His assignments have taken him to some of the world's most beautiful and challenging environments and have brought him face to face with a diversity of wildlife in all 50 U. S. states and all seven continents. He was recently named a National Geographic Fellow for his work on The Photo Ark, a multiyear project to document...

Reviews

Fundamentals of Photography is rated
4.7 out of
5 by
664.

Rated 3 out of
5 by
carpenter22 from
Poorly producedThe person teaching the course and the description led me to believe I'd view a more professionally produced product. I was wrong. The studio and the lack of engaging graphics as well as the speaker's lack of ability to engage me was VERY disappointing. It was a real disappointment and I expected more from NG.

Date published: 2019-05-21

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Birdey from
Improved My Photography SkillsI love taking pictures. The problem was that my photographs would very often come out dark. Because of that, I set out to learn more about photography so I could improve my photographs. I found this Fundamentals of Photography DVD set at my public library and I am so glad I did! I have almost completed the entire course, I just have episodes 23 & 24 left to watch, and I have learned so much throughout this course! My photography skills have definitely improved just from watching this course and I have met my goal of no more dark pictures! This course has even pushed me to leave the auto setting on my camera and to set my own settings, which is something I never did before watching this course. I have enjoyed Mr. Sartore's teaching style, I like how he shows examples of good photos and of not so good photos, and I found the stories of all of his travels interesting. I also enjoyed his sense of humor. I am so glad my library carries this course. What a great course! (I own a Canon PowerShot SX510 HS)

Date published: 2019-05-15

Rated 5 out of
5 by
BrianWI from
Great and practical tips, excellent examplesI am only halfway thru this course. There are 24 sections, each about 30 minutes. So far, the course is excellent. The instructor (Joel Satore) is outstanding, in that he goes slow enough to explain, then goes thru examples. The best examples are the ones where he varies a setting and shows the effect on the same photo. (like white balance, flash examples)
I have already put his instruction to practical use around the house ... and see the results instantly.

Date published: 2019-05-09

Rated 1 out of
5 by
russellbesq from
An excellent photographer, but a poor presentationThe instructor is quite accomplished and has many outstanding works. Sadly, the course is disappointing. While it showcases some outstanding photography, the informational aspects are lacking, the humor quickly becomes grating, the repetition of nonsubstantive comments is too frequent, and the review and consistent self-praise of his pictures is too much. I had to stop at lecture 15 of 24. I wish is had been better edited and focused more on technique.

Date published: 2019-05-08

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Rhphall65 from
Great informationI purchased this a few weeks ago and have completed about 5 lessons. The instructor give excellent ideas and examples to make everything very clear. Also the assignments are very helpful. I recommend this course to all beginners and the experienced as well

Date published: 2019-05-03

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Misty13 from
Great CourseGreat information included in this course. Learn the basics and more, how your camera works, how the parts interact, great examples. Great instructor.

Date published: 2019-04-27

Rated 5 out of
5 by
dka61 from
Great for the basics needed for noviceI recently purchased the Fundamentals of Photography course and it is just what I needed to polish and perfect my skills. The short sessions allow me to do a segment over lunch time and do the homework that evening after work. This works very well for keeping the flow of the instruction fresh.

Date published: 2019-04-24

Rated 3 out of
5 by
Elizab from
wish the program was in colorIt is difficult to see some of the lessons in color use when the course is in black and white. The author talks of the color of light and shows examples that show no difference. the course has lots of very interesting ideas and was quite helpful with things that color isn't a factor.